Think of a startup with twelve employees, a working SaaS product, and a growing customer base. No one on the team has “compliance manager” in their job title, but security matters. A prospective enterprise customer next requests a SOC 2 report.
Where do you start?
For founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification, the answer isn’t to download dozens of policies right away. Instead, start by making a few choices that decide what your company needs to document, put in place, and prove.
Begin by Defining Your Audit Scope
The AICPA Trust Services Criteria serve as the standard that SOC 2 evaluates controls against. These address Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Of these, only Security is required. Add the other areas only when they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. A startup with a straightforward business application may start with Security alone, as long as that scope meets customer expectations.
The applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved should be mapped out before collecting evidence. Keeping the scope unnecessarily broad adds extra work, and it doesn’t necessarily increase the report’s usefulness.
Type 1 or Type 2? Let the Deadline Decide
People searching for how to get SOC 2 certified often discover two reporting options. Type 1 examines the design of controls as of a specified date. Type 2 goes further, examining design and operating effectiveness over a defined period. If an enterprise customer needs evidence quickly, Type 1 may be a useful first step, as long as the customer accepts it.
Businesses exploring how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification should expect an observation period, typically three to twelve months, and then an independent examination. Type 2 doesn’t require completing Type 1 first. Make sure you know what your customer requires before committing to either examination.
Start With Day-to-Day Security Gaps
If security controls are linked to ordinary business activities, SOC 2 preparation becomes more manageable. Consider enforcing multi-factor authentication for important accounts, setting up a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions on a regular basis.
Developers should keep evidence of production changes and approvals. Document risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews at the leadership level. Policies must describe what employees actually do. There is limited value in a polished procedure that nobody follows.
Organize Evidence Before It Becomes a Problem
Showing that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently is central to SOC 2 for saas companies. An auditor may well ask when a former employee’s access was removed or whether a production deployment received appropriate approval.
Collecting these records as activities occur is far easier than reconstructing them months later. CertAssist supports small teams manage this work with built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
There’s no need for direct integrations with company systems. Evidence gets uploaded by the team, and auditors can be provided with read-only access.
Understand the Independent Audit Requirement
Strictly speaking, SOC 2 is an attestation rather than a certification. The examination is performed by a licensed CPA firm, which then issues the SOC 2 report. Nothing replaces the independent auditor, not even compliance software, which can help prepare and organize evidence.
On the software side, CertAssist advertises a US$225 monthly promotional subscription covering SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. Independent audits are a separate expense. Request an auditor’s quote that reflects your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period before budgeting.
What Happens After Your First SOC 2 Report
Finishing a SOC 2 examination shouldn’t be the end of your security activities. Team members join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers become part of your operations. Your controls must remain relevant.
Three habits keep things on track: setting clear responsibilities, retaining evidence throughout the year, and periodically reviewing whether your documented procedures match reality. As your startup grows, keeping this up makes future examinations easier and helps meet the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.
